Thursday, Sept. 17, begins the national celebration of Constitution Week.

The weeklong commemoration of America’s most important document is one of our country’s least known official observances. The Constitution stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain their liberties and freedom, and to ensure those unalienable rights to every American.

The United States will celebrate the 222nd anniversary of the Constitution. Each year the Margaret Gaston Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution in Lebanon promotes the Constitution in local schools. Chapter members will be presenting Byars Dowdy Elementary a copy of the Constitution and a book “We the People, The Story of Our Constitution” by Lynne Cheney to commensurate Constitution Week Sept. 17-23.

Byars Dowdy Elementary will be ringing in the Constitution on Sept. 17 at 8 a.m. Please join members and students in the lobby to help them ring! A Constitutional Moment will be given each day of Constitution Week by Principal Lorie Blackburn. If your school would like to have a copy of the Constitutional Moments, please contact Mary-Margaret Farris, Constitution chairman, at farrism3@mac.com.

The tradition of celebrating the Constitution was started many years ago by the DAR. In 1955, the Daughters petitioned Congress to set aside Sept. 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into Public Law #915 on Aug. 2, 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The aims of the celebration are to (1) emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution, preserving it for posterity; (2) inform the people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life; and (3) encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.

The United States of America functions as a Republic under the Constitution, which is the oldest document still in active use that outlines the self-government of a people. This landmark idea that men had the inalienable right as individuals to be free and live their lives under their own governance was the impetus of the American Revolution. Today, the Constitution stands as an icon of freedom for people around the world.

“Constitution Week is the perfect opportunity to read and study this great document which is the safeguard of our American liberties,” said DAR President General, Linda Gist Calvin. “We encourage all citizens across the country to take time this week to reflect on our heritage of freedom.”

DAR has served America for 119 years as its foremost cheerleader. In 1928, the Daughters began work on a building as a memorial to the Constitution. John Russell Pope, architect of the Jefferson Memorial, was commissioned to design the performing arts center, known as DAR Constitution Hall. Today, DAR Constitution Hall is the only structure erected in tribute to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Known as the largest women’s patriotic organization in the world, DAR has more than 165,000 members with approximately 3,000 chapters in all 50 states and 11 foreign countries. The DAR has long promoted patriotism through commemorative celebrations, memorials, scholarships and activities for children, and programs for new immigrants. For more information about DAR and its programs, visit www.dar.org or call (202) 628-1776.